An apparatus energized by a flowing fluid includes at least one turbine blade having a trailing edge angle and an elastic deformation member connected to the at least one turbine blade. The deformation of the elastic deformation member changes an orientation of a trailing edge angle of the at least one turbine blade.
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1. An apparatus energized by a flowing fluid, comprising:
at least one turbine blade having leading edge and a trailing edge angle, the at least one turbine blade rotating around a first long axis; and
an elastic deformation member connected to the at least one turbine blade, wherein a deformation of the elastic deformation member rotates the leading edge in a direction opposite to a rotation of the trailing edge, the rotations being about the first long axis and changing an orientation of the trailing edge angle of the at least one turbine blade.
9. A method for controlling a speed of a turbine drive assembly energized by a flowing fluid, comprising:
reducing a rate at which a rotational speed of a plurality of turbine blades increases as a flow rate of the flowing fluid increases by reducing a tip speed ratio of the plurality of turbine blades, the tip speed ratio being the rotational speed divided by the flow rate of the flowing fluid, the reduction being done by connecting at least one elastic deformation member to the plurality of turbine blades associated with the turbine drive assembly, wherein a deformation of the at least one elastic deformation member changes an orientation of a trailing edge angle of the at least one turbine blade.
11. An apparatus energized by a flowing fluid, comprising:
a hub;
a plurality of turbine blades arrayed around the hub, each turbine blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a center of gravity, and a trailing edge angle;
a front elastic element including plurality of spokes, each spoke connecting an associated turbine blade to the hub; and
a back elastic element including a plurality spokes, each spoke connecting an associated turbine blade to the hub,
wherein the front elastic element and the back elastic element deform when the hub rotates, and wherein the deformations rotate the leading edges in a direction opposite to a rotation of the trailing edges, the rotations being about a long axis of the hub and changing the orientation of the trailing edge angle of each the plurality of turbine blades.
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1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to oilfield downhole tools and more particularly to speed control for turbine drives.
2. Description of the Related Art
To obtain hydrocarbons such as oil and gas, boreholes or wellbores are drilled by rotating a drill bit attached to the bottom of a BHA (also referred to herein as a “Bottom Hole Assembly” or (“BHA”). The BHA is attached to the bottom of a tubing, which is usually either a jointed rigid pipe or a relatively flexible spoolable tubing commonly referred to in the art as “coiled tubing.” The string comprising the tubing and the BHA is usually referred to as the “drill string.” BHA's, as well as other wellbore devices, may include a turbine drive to generate rotary power. This rotary power may be conveyed to a consumer; e.g., an oil pump or an alternator.
Variations in the operating conditions, which may be intentional or unintentional, can alter the fluid flow used to energize turbine drives. For example, an increase in fluid flow rate can increase turbine rotational speed. Some consumers of rotary power can be damaged when driven at an excessive speed. The present disclosure addresses the need for controlling the speed of turbine drives.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus energized by a flowing fluid. The apparatus may include at least one turbine blade having a trailing edge angle; and an elastic deformation member connected to the at least one turbine blade. The deformation of the elastic deformation member changes an orientation of a trailing edge angle of the at least one turbine blade.
Another apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a hub; a plurality of turbine blades arrayed around the hub, each turbine blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a center of gravity, and a trailing edge angle; a front elastic element including plurality of spokes, each spoke connecting an associated turbine blade to the hub; and a back elastic element including a plurality spokes, each spoke connecting an associated turbine blade to the hub. The front elastic element and the back elastic element deform when the hub rotates. This deformation change the orientation of the trailing edge angle of each the plurality of turbine blades.
Examples of certain features of the disclosure have been summarized in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, references should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals and wherein:
As will be appreciated from the discussion below, aspects of the present disclosure may be used to control the rotational speed of turbine drives. The control may include reducing the rate at which speed increases, preventing speeds above a present value, maintaining speed within a specified range, and/or reducing speed when encountering one or more specified condition. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with any number of fluid systems in various industries. Merely for brevity, the present teachings will be discussed in connection with devices and tools used in subsurface applications.
Referring to
Referring to
In embodiment, the turbine drive assembly 100 includes an elastic deformation member 130 that deforms in a predetermined manner when subjected to the centrifugal forces associated with rotation of the blades 110. Exemplary modes of deformation include bending, twisting, stretching, expanding, shrinking, and contracting. Illustrative, but not limiting, examples of suitable materials for the elastic deformation member 130 include spring steel, plastics, elastomerics, and other materials that have a modulus of elasticity providing a suitable elastic deformation range. The material(s), shape, and orientation of the elastic deformation member 130 may be selected to allow a deformation that changes the orientation of an angle of a trailing edge 140 of the blades 110. Changing the orientation of the angle of the trailing edge 140 causes a corresponding change of the tip speed ratio. Additionally, the turbine drive assembly 100 may include other features such as a protective enclosure 138 for protecting the elastic deformation member 130. The protective enclosure 138 may be a sleeve or coating that partially or completely encloses the elastic deformation member 130. Suitable materials for the protective enclosure 138 include polymers, elastomers, and or pliant materials that can function as a barrier for the elastic deformation member 130 against abrasion, corrosion, erosion, while still allowing the elastic deformation member 130 to deform. The elastic deformation member 130 may be one integral structure.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
The teachings of the present disclosure may be used to adjust or control blade orientation in any number of situations. For example, referring to
During operation, the fluid 174 may be pumped at different flow rates. When flow rates increase, the additional flow velocity in the fluid would normally cause the turbine drive 100 to rotate faster. However, the blades 110 (
It should be noted that the teachings of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the turbine drive assemblies according to the present disclosure are not limited to exhibiting a diminished speed response to flow rate increase. The turbine blade assemblies may also be configured to non-linearly increase speed as flow rate increases. That is, the turbine blade assembly increases the tip speed ratio when the flow rate increases. Moreover, the response need not be limited to a non-linear response. For example, the behavior may be similar to a step function where the speed responses change abruptly from a first response to a second response.
While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the one mode embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations within the scope of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.
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Mar 06 2014 | SCHOLZ, ECKARD | Baker Hughes Incorporated | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 032400 | /0869 |
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